The Senegalese National Police took a crucial step in the fight against pimping on Sunday, December 21. The alleged "mastermind" of a women trafficking network, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Kédougou, in the southeast of the country.

A modus operandi based on deception and coercion

The investigation, conducted by the Division for Combating Migrant Smuggling (DNLT), uncovered a well-established criminal scheme:

1. The recruitment: Three young Nigerian women were lured to Senegal under the false promise of jobs in the restaurant industry.
2. The kidnapping: Once they arrived at the suspect's home, the victims were deprived of their freedom.
3. The ritual of submission: To guarantee their silence and obedience, the young women were subjected to occult "submission" rites before being handed over to forced prostitution.

International ramifications

The main suspect confessed to having generated 900,000 CFA francs (approximately 1,400 euros) through the exploitation of these three victims. A significant portion of these funds was sent back to Nigeria to family accomplices responsible for the initial recruitment.

Support provided: The three victims were placed in the care of a specialized local association to receive psychological and social support.

Kédougou: a high-tension area

The mining region of Kédougou has become a hotspot for human trafficking in Senegal. The proliferation of artisanal gold mining sites attracts a vulnerable workforce from across West Africa, who are often sexually exploited near the mines.

This arrest is part of a resurgence of similar cases identified by Senegalese authorities in recent months.